Brooke

 

Logan completed an excruciating workout and was more than ready to head home. He was in a foul mood, so I didn’t say anything to him because I didn’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday. As soon as we reached his apartment, I made him lie down on his bed while I worked on his leg before he took a shower.

“Are you ever going to tell me about that Mark guy?”

“Why are you so concerned about him?” I asked as I continued massaging.

“Because I could tell how upset you were by his phone calls. You’re my friend, Brooke, and if there’s anything I can do to help, I will.”

A small smile crossed my lips. “Thanks, but there’s nothing you can do, Logan. Like I said, he was mistake. A huge mistake.”

“It seems like he’s not over you.”

“That’s his problem now, isn’t it?”

“I guess it is, but still. Did he hurt you?”

“No. In order for him to hurt me, I would’ve had to been in love with him, which I wasn’t.”

“That much of a douchebag?” Logan asked with a grin.

“Yeah,” I replied, nodding my head. “The biggest douchebag in the world. Okay, you’re all set for now. How does it feel?”

“It hurts like a bitch. Were you in pain like this?”

“Much worse pain. Go take a shower but make sure you sit down. If you need my help, let me know.”

“I get the feeling you’re just trying to see my dick.” He winked.

I cocked my head. “And I get the feeling there’s nothing to it and that’s the reason you’re so dead set against me seeing it.” I smiled as I walked out of his room.

“Think what you want, Brooke. But I can guarantee that it’s probably the best-looking dick you’ve ever seen,” he shouted.

I let out a soft laugh as I went to my bedroom and changed my clothes. After Logan finished showering, he walked out wearing his Rangers jersey. He looked so ruggedly handsome that my belly did some wild flips because he definitely took my breath away.

“Look at you. How did it feel to put it back on?” I asked.

“A little strange, but good.”

Sensing a sadness in his voice, I walked over to him and clasped his shoulders.

“You will be wearing that again.”

He didn’t say a word. He looked down and then hobbled into the kitchen. His mind was filled with doubt, and with doubt, he’d never step foot on the ice again.

****

Walking into the Four Seasons, I was in awe of the beautiful and elegantly Christmas-decorated lobby. I could tell Logan was nervous as we stepped into the conference room and his coach walked up and gave him a light hug.

“Good to see you out of that bed, Logan.”

“Thanks, Gene. It’s good to be out of it. Gene, I want you meet my physical therapist, Brooke Alexander. Brooke, this is Coach Gene.”

He held out his hand with a smile as I lightly shook it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Brooke.”

“Likewise.” I smiled.

“If you’ll excuse us for a moment, I need to speak with Logan in private,” he spoke as he led him behind the large curtain that was dividing the room.

As I stood there, the press began to scramble in as cameras were being set up and noise began to filter throughout the air. After about fifteen minutes, Gene walked over to me.

“Where’s Logan?” I asked.

“He’s talking with Bruce. He won’t be back out until the conference starts. Listen, Brooke, Logan doesn’t sound too sure that he’ll ever be back on the ice. I can tell his mind is filled with doubt and, to be honest, so is mine. The doctors said verbally and in their report that his hockey career is over. I’m really feeling the heat from management. They want me to permanently replace him at the end of the season. I’m doing everything I can to hold them off, but, with that being said, I can only do it for so long. All these people hear is what the doctors said. Now, if he were to make a miraculous recovery and let’s say get back on the ice for the last few games, then I’ll have a leg to stand on.”

I cocked my head in disbelief over what I was hearing. “You’re talking three and a half months.”

“And you’re telling him that he’ll be able to play hockey again.” His brow arched.

“In time. By the fall, it’s a probability. But three months, Gene. Come on. I’m not a damn miracle worker.”

“Listen to me, sweetheart, Logan needs you to be his damn miracle worker right now and so do I.”

He looked at his watch and placed his hand on my shoulder. “The conference is about to start. Come with me. I think you need to have a talk with him before he comes out.”

He led me behind the curtain and over to where to Bruce and Logan were talking.

“Hello, Bruce. Can you give me and Logan a second, please?”

“Sure.” He smiled.

As he walked away, I looked into Logan’s eyes, which displayed the same look as when I first met him.

“You are to go out there and tell the world that you will, without a doubt, play hockey again.”

“Brooke, it’s over.” He looked away.

I took a firm hold on his shoulders, and his eyes locked onto mine.

“Being defeated isn’t an option. Do you understand me? Fuck what everyone is saying. You wanted me here for support and it’s what I’m giving you. If you don’t believe, nobody else will either and then you will have done nothing but wasted both of our time. I don’t waste time, Logan. Time is too precious. Do it for your dad, your brothers, and for Tommy. Do you think he’d want you to give up?”

“Logan, it’s time,” Gene spoke.

“You can do this.” I placed my hand on his cheek as I stared into his unsure eyes. Eyes that made me a nervous wreck, for I didn’t know what he would say out there to the press.

Taking in a deep breath, he stepped out from behind the curtain. Pulling out my phone, I made a call.

“Hello, Brooke.”

“Woo, I need your help.”

****

Logan

I stood in front of the podium as the flashes from the cameras began to go off and the crowd of people stood in the room awaiting their chance for questions regarding the accident and my career. I gripped the sides of the wood as nerves flooded my body. Inhaling deeply, I began to speak.

“I want to thank everyone for coming here tonight. As you are all aware, two months ago, I was involved in a car accident that took the life of my best friend and teammate, Tommy Goodwin, and left me with a seriously injured leg. I am here to tell you all tonight that I will be back on the ice and playing for the Rangers again. When? I’m not sure yet, but I have started rehabilitation and I will make a full recovery.”

Shouts in the room, hands being raised, and continuous flashes filled the area. I pointed to Jess, a reporter I’d known for years.

“Are you out for the rest of the season, Logan?”

“That has yet to be determined, Jess. Tim?” I pointed.

“You said that you’ve started rehabilitation. How is that going so far?”

“Painful.” I laughed. “But so far, so good.”

I pointed to a guy in the back.

“The Rangers have lost multiple games. How does that make you feel to sit and watch your team lose since you’ve been out?”

I swallowed hard. “The Rangers are an excellent team, with or without me. They’ve just hit a bump in the road but will be back on top before you know it.”

“Logan?” A reporter named Barney raised his hand.

“Yeah, Barney?”

“I heard that your physical therapist is Brooke Alexander. She wouldn’t happen to be the same Brooke Alexander who won the gold in the U.S. Champion games thirteen years ago?”

A smile crossed my face. “Yes. That is the same Brooke Alexander and she’s right over there.” I pointed to the side of me. “I’ll answer one more question. Yes?” I pointed to the young guy in the front.

“How do you feel about your endorsements dropping you?”

“How would you feel about it?” I smiled. “It doesn’t matter because I will be back on top and they’ll be regretting that decision when the time comes. Now if that’s all, I have some rehabilitating to do.”

“Wait!” a voice in the back shouted. “Can we ask Miss Alexander some questions?”

I looked over at Brooke as she bit down on her bottom lip. Slowly, she began to walk towards the podium as I moved to the side so she could have access to the microphone.

“Miss Alexander, you have your work cut out for you. Many people are doubting that Lightning Logan will ever play ice hockey again. The doctors sure don’t believe it, so why should we?”

“You can believe anything you want. You can doubt anything you want. If Logan wants to play hockey again, then he will. Only he has the power to make that decision. As long as he believes it, he will be back on the ice.”

“Isn’t that giving false hope? Not only to him but to us as well? Come on, his leg is damaged goods now, beyond repair, according to the medical reports. How can you stand there and promise that he’ll play again? It seems to me like you’re setting him up for failure.”

She stood there for a moment, choosing her words carefully before she spoke. That question pissed me the fuck off, but Brooke stood there calm, not showing an ounce of anger on her angel face.

“I had an inoperable spinal cord injury that paralyzed me from the waist down. I was told that I’d never walk again and that my skating career was over before it even truly began. I defied those odds that were against me and Logan will too. Like I said, only he has the power within to get better.”

“It sounds to me that you’re going to be using some Eastern medicine practices on him, yet you’re a physical therapist who graduated being taught Western medicine.”

“And?” She grinned.

“Doesn’t that go against some type of ethics?”

“No. It doesn’t. I am privately employed by Mr. Jackson and he is fully aware of what treatments I’m using on him. I am concerned, however, why you seemed bother by this?”

“I’m not bothered. It’s just a bunch of bullshit and I feel you’re providing false hope.”

Brooke stepped aside and to the front of the podium, holding her arms out.

“Am I a bunch of bullshit? Modern medicine failed me when I was fourteen years old. Modern medicine gave up on me. Yet here I stand today, in front of all of you, when I was never supposed to get out of a wheelchair. So you can take your false hope and shove it up your ass.”

The crowd clapped and a grin crossed my lips. I couldn’t believe she just told him that.

“Excuse me, Miss Alexander?” Barney held up his hand. “I was at the first competition you were in following your accident. You did very well. Why didn’t you continue skating? The Olympic games could have been yours.”

“Thank you. Skating was once a passion of mine, but after the accident, my goals veered more towards helping people. I was given a second chance and if I could help people get back what they once lost, to me, that’s better than winning any gold medal in the world.”

She raised her hand and gave the crowd a small wave. “Thank you for your questions, but I have to get back to work.”

She walked away and went behind the curtain. Following behind, I stood in front of her, staring into her beautiful blue eyes, not knowing what to say. This fierce woman had more faith and positivity than anyone I’d ever known.

“I can’t believe you told that guy to shove his false hope up his ass.”

She shrugged. “He deserved it. I’m starving. You said you were taking me to dinner.” She smiled.

I chuckled. “I am. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”